Is Saturday’s football game between Florida State and Clemson the biggest in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference? We will only know the answer to that question for sure by the end of Jan. 6, 2014 in Pasadena.
The reason that question was posed was because one of our esteemed pollsters, T.J. Basalla, made the bold assessment that the ACC may not have staged a bigger game on the gridiron before what will take place in Death Valley (Clemson edition) Saturday night. It is interesting to ponder, especially since the ACC has won only one title in the BCS era (Florida State, 1999), and if it wasn’t for Florida State’s dominance since joining the the league in 1991, the conference would have only one national champion since 1990, when Georgia Tech shared the spoils with Colorado at the end of the 1990 season.
Two thoughts about the importance of FSU-Clemson. First, it’s easy to assign the seminality of a sporting event (or for that matter, any event in a person’s life) but almost impossible to prove in the present day given that it all depends on future outcomes. In this instance, please remember to keep in mind that we are dealing with Clemson – the masters of “Clemsoning.” (The fact that I do not have to define this term to most reading this tells you all you need to know as to why you should be gun shy to think this game is a “be-all, end-all.”)
Second, to think this might be the most important game in the conference’s history would ignore Wide Right I in 1991 (FSU officially joined the ACC in 1991 but did not play a full ACC schedule), Wide Right II the year after, the Choke at Doak (FSU coming back from 28 down in the fourth quarter to tie Florida at 31 in 1994), the 1996 FSU win over Florida in a battle of undefeateds and the Sugar Bowl revenge Florida got on the Seminoles immediately after. Except for the 1994 game, each of the other contests played an integral role in who played in – or won – the national championship that season. So the question has an obvious answer (NO), but rewording the question may give us a better representation of Saturday’s game.
Is this the most important regular-season conference game in the history of the ACC? Even with the trickiness of assigning seminality, it is apparent there have been few ACC conference match-ups as big as this one. To my mind, the only conference game in the past quarter century with as much riding on it as Saturday’s game was the Nov. 3, 1990 face-off between Georgia Tech and No. 1 Virginia, when the 16th-ranked Yellow Jackets ended the Cinderella run of the then 7-0 and top-ranked Cavaliers on a last-second field goal, 41-38. Tech would go 11-0-1 that season, winning the United Press International (UPI) national championship. Football fans hope that Saturday’s contest plays out exactly like that thriller in Charlottesville 23 years ago.
Our A Lot Of Sports Talk College Football Top 25 pollsters have been a part of seminal football moments – either as journalists, players or fans – and can’t wait to see that next moment occur. Our experts include: Lisa Horne (CFB/NASCAR writer and on-air personality), Basil Mitchell (former TCU and Green Bay Packers running back), T.J. Basalla (super fan, marketing professional, WJPZ Alumni Association President), Matty J. (ThrowTheFlagBlog.com, gifsection.com), Adesina Koiki (A Lot Of Sports Talk reporter/writer) and an anonymous staff member at a Division I-FBS school.
1. 
Alabama (146, 3 first-place votes)
This stat has circulated since Saturday: So far, Alabama has given up fewer points in their five non-Manziel games this season (26) than they did in the second half of their game against Texas A&M (28). It is starting to look like my favorite game of the year, LSU-Alabama, will once again be a monster showdown. (Anonymous D-1 FBS staffer)
Alabama continued to roll against a Kentucky team that is struggling. No surprise there. The steamroller is ready for Arkansas this Saturday. (Matty J.)
2. 
Oregon (145 points, 2 first-place votes)
Something tells me that the Ducks will not fall into the trap of looking over an opponent before a big game the week after. Before UCLA, Oregon takes on Washington State, and the Ducks should be able to eclipse the 52 points that their in-state rival Beavers put on the Cougars in Pullman last week. (Adesina Koiki)
3. 
Clemson (137, 1 first-place vote)
A 24-14 win against Boston College did not impress many, especially when you consider that unranked USC beat the Eagles 35-7. Maybe they were looking ahead to their date with Florida State. To be fair, BC also gave Florida State its fair share of trouble this season as well. (Lisa Horne)
Biggest game in the history of the ACC. Plain and simple. (T.J. Basalla)
4. 
Florida State (128)
This is the first time in years that an ACC game actually matters. We’ll see if Jameis Winston is ready for prime time. (I have a suspicion that he is.) (Anonymous D-1 FBS staffer)
5. 
Ohio State (121)
The Buckeyes’ schedule is fairly soft but they have beaten two very good Big Ten teams in back-to-back weeks. Ohio State is now the sleeper team to watch because the rest of its schedule doesn’t look very challenging. (Lisa)
6. 
Baylor (110)
The Bears didn’t score 70 points against Kansas State, but they still won 35-25. So far, Baylor looks like a Top 10 team, but it hasn’t really played the meat of its backloaded schedule. Stay tuned. (Lisa)
7. 
Louisville (109)
Perception vs. Reality, Louisville edition. Perception: The Cardinals struggled to beat Rutgers, scoring only 24 points and leading by only seven at one point in the fourth quarter last Thursday. Reality: Louisville put on a dominant defensive performance, holding the Scarlet Knights – a team that has scored 50 points in a game twice this season – to 10 points, only 240 yards of total offense, sacked Gary Nova eight times and picked him off four times. My point: look at both sides of the ball before judging that the Cardinals, who had a real good offensive game to boot, struggled because they did not win by a thousand points. (Adesina)
8. 
LSU (106)
We saw shades of the 2011-2012 Tigers against Florida, as they held the Gators to 3.5 yards per play. I’m not saying that this defense is as good as it has been the past two years. They’re just too young for that, but I think we’ll see steady improvement for the rest of year. (Anonymous D-1 FBS staffer)
Les Miles had some NSFW language in his press conference, defending his team and even how good Florida was. He seems to be a man of principle who also likes to eat grass. Culture! (Matty J.)
9. 
Texas A&M (102)
The Aggies are a good team. Quarterback Johnny Manziel makes them look great. Defense is still a lingering question mark but with Manziel taking snaps, does it really matter? (Lisa)
10. 
UCLA (96)
They are going into a grueling stretch, facing Stanford and Oregon in back-to-back games. Washington just went through that stretch and emerged 0-2. I would be surprised (but not shocked) if UCLA didn’t exit with the same record. (Anonymous D-1 FBS staffer)
11. 
Miami, Fla. (92)
While Florida State and Clemson get all the hype in the ACC, especially before their meeting on Saturday, I’m sure the Hurricanes have this song playing in their heads and hoping the rest of the nation notices. For now, Miami has to repel tonight’s challenge of a very talented but wounded North Carolina (1-4) looking to turn around its season at the ‘Canes expense. (Adesina)
12. 
Stanford (82)
All good things must come to an end, unless Stanford beats UCLA this Saturday and Oregon on Nov. 7. Then all bets are back on for the Cardinal. (Lisa)
13. 
Missouri (75*)
Despite losing starting quarterback James Franklin for the next month due to a shoulder separation, Missouri is undefeated and is a favorite to win the SEC East after its win in Athens. Of course, Georgia may have been playing some water boys at the skill positions because of their litany of injuries. Mizzou is a legit team now. (Matty J.)
14. 
South Carolina (75)
Given all the “drama” surrounding this program the past week, that was one impressive destruction of the Hogs by the Ol’ Ball Coach’s men. (T.J.)
15. 
Georgia (66)
I feel bad for dropping the Bulldogs but I think those injuries are really going to hurt them, as they did against Missouri. (Anonymous D-1 FBS staffer)
16. 
Texas Tech (63)
Like Baylor, the Red Raiders’ schedule is backloaded. For now, Texas Tech is undefeated but that looks temporary with Oklahoma (away), Oklahoma State (home), Kansas State (home), Baylor (away) and Texas (away) still remaining on its schedule. (Lisa)
17. 
Fresno State (53)
The Bulldogs may be first in line at the “BCS Busters” party, but their next four games are actually pretty hairy (UNLV, at San Diego State, Nevada, at Wyoming). UNLV is much improved under coach Bobby Hauck, SDSU has won three in a row after starting 0-3, Nevada is always a thorn in the sides of opposing defenses and playing at Wyoming is tough for two reasons: the altitude at War Memorial Stadium (7,220 feet above sea level) and the Cowboys may be the second-best team in the Mountain West, even over Boise State. (Adesina)
18. 
Oklahoma (40)
If you would have told me two weeks ago that Oklahoma would lose this game, I would have called you certifiably insane. It appears the Red River Rivalry has weird outcomes. Mack Brown got his team to play well so his seat is becoming less hot than it was before. I never saw that result coming. (Matty J.)
19. 
Washington (36*)
I think the Huskies are a very good football team that had the misfortune of being in the same division as Stanford and Oregon. If you put these guys in the Big Ten Legends, they walk away with it. (Anonymous D-1 FBS staffer)
20. 
Oklahoma State (36)
There’s flying below the radar, and then there’s the Oklahoma State Cowboys right now. That loss to West Virginia on Sept. 28 has totally taken them out the national consciousness, but they are just as likely to win the Big 12 crown as anyone, including Baylor and Oklahoma – two teams that have to play in Stillwater at the end of the Cowboys’ regular season. (Adesina)
21. 
Florida (32)
They are so good defensively but their offensive weapons are just a bit young. I think Will Muschamp can return them to their Urban Meyer levels with enough time. (Anonymous D-1 FBS staffer)
22. 
Virginia Tech (31)
Like South Carolina, Virginia Tech is winning ugly. Let’s hope these two teams do not play each other in a bowl. (Lisa)
“Chick-fil-A Bowl, here we (South Carolina, Virginia Tech) come!! Happy New Year!” (Adesina)
23. 
Northern Illinois (18)
Either the Huskies were sleepwalking through their 27-20 home win last week, or Akron is the best 1-6 team in the country, especially since they gave Michigan all they could handle – and then some – in the Big House earlier this season. Once again, nothing is ever easy in conference play, no matter the conference. (Adesina)
24. 
Wisconsin (14)
A controversial finish in the Arizona State game and a heartbreaking loss to Ohio State are the only two things keeping Wisconsin from a perfect record. (Lisa)
25. 
Auburn (10*)
The only other road test for the Tigers saw them go into a 21-0 halftime hole due to a fourth-down fumble in LSU territory on the first drive of the game and a dropped snap on a punt on their next drive (both led to Bayou Bengal touchdowns). Make those mistakes in College Station and A&M will be sure to hang a 50-spot on the scoreboard. On the bright side, Tre Mason (5.6 ypc, 7 TD) could be the SEC’s best running back not named Tood Gurley and should do well against the Aggie defense. (Adesina)
Others receiving votes:
Michigan State (10 points), Northwestern (7), Michigan (3), Texas (3), North Dakota State (2), Notre Dame (1), Oregon State (1)
* – To break ties, we used a three-step criteria; 1) higher number of first-place votes, 2) higher number of ballots (out of six) the teams appeared in, 3) highest single ranking by an individual pollster (e.g. if Team A and Team B are tied cumulatively and appeared in all six polls, but Team A’s highest ranking by an individual pollster was No. 7 and Team B’s highest ranking by an individual pollster was No. 9, Team A wins tiebreaker)
